After 35 years, the comical mechanics on the National Public Radio’s “Car Talk” are packing up their toolbox.

Also known as “Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers,” NPR’s “Car Talk” hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi said in an online note to listeners Friday that they will stop recording new shows in October. NPR said it would continue to distribute to its affiliated stations versions of the program built from the best of the show’s 25 years of content.

“Car Talk” is NPR’s most popular program, with 3.3 million people tuning in every week at 660 stations, according to Eric Nuzum, vice president of programming at NPR. NPR’s next-highest rated show is “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me,” a news quiz show that garners 2.1 million listeners per week. “They’re retiring at the top of their game,” Mr. Nuzum said of the brothers. “It’s the most successful program on public radio.”

The bantering brothers started taping “Car Talk” 35 years ago at Boston’s WBUR station, giving advice about cars and life, and have since recorded more than 1,200 shows, according to NPR. It has been on NPR for 25 years.

“Frankly, it changed the whole nature of public radio in America,” said Charlie Kravetz, general manager of WBUR. He said the brothers started the show at a time when public radio was largely journalistic and music-based, without entertainment programming. Many stations were “throwing a lot of spaghetti against a refrigerator and seeing what sticks,” he said.

The Magliozzi brothers said in their note to listeners that with Tom, the older of the two, turning 75 this year, it was time to “stop and smell the cappuccino.”

“We’ve managed to avoid getting thrown off NPR for 25 years, given out tens of thousands of wrong answers, generated lawsuit threats from innumerable car companies, and had a hell of a lot of fun talking to you guys,” wrote Ray, the younger brother, in their farewell note on Car Talk’s website.

The brothers will continue to record parts for the show that can’t be reclaimed from their old calls—like fundraising spots and promotions, Mr. Nuzum said. They will also continue to write their twice weekly column “Dear Tom and Ray.”

About a future reappearance on NPR, Ray said “It’s unlikely, but anything’s possible.” His brother, characteristically, disagreed: “Absolutely not…I’m done.”

I'm gonna miss you guys! I didn't know you were going on "vacation" until now. I just figured out the best way EVER to increase my gas mileage and wanted to share it with you... a locking gas cap!! simple..who knew.

11:28 am June 15, 2012

Fan wrote :

Aww man. I found out about this show only a few years ago. It is defiantly my favorite on the radio. Thanks for all the entertainment. Enjoy the Cappuccinos. You guys truly were the 69 Stang of the Radio world, true classic.